Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Institute for Education Policy Studies is an independent Radical Left/ Socialist/ Marxist institute for developing analysis of education policy. It is at http://www.ieps.org.uk . The Institute seeks to develop Marxist analysis of policy, theory, ideology and policy development. It also seeks to develop Marxist transformative education theory, analysis and policy analyse and develop socialist/Marxist transformative policy for schooling and education from a number of Radical Left perspectives, including Freirean perspectives. The IEPS and its journal address issues of Social Class, 'Race', Gender and Capital/ism; Critical Pedagogy; New Public Managerialism and Academic / non-Academic labour, and Empowerment/ Disempowerment.The IEPS critiques global, national, neo-liberal, neo-conservative, New Labour, Third Way, and postmodernist analyses and policy, together with New Public Managerialism . It was set up in 1989 and hosted the formation of the Hillcole Group of Radical Left Educators (1989-2001). The IEPS organises and publicises national conferences and also publishes on-line papers by Radical Left/ Socialist/ Marxist writers.

This is to announce: the 12th Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues (MERD) SeminarWe will be focusing upon: Current Issues in Marxist Education Research

We are pleased to confirm the following line-up of speakers:Andrea Beckmann, Charlie Cooper, Richard Hatcher, Ken Jones, and Gurnam Singh

More information on paper titles and details of the timetable will be sent to you in due course.The seminar is free but places are limited.

To reserve a place and receive a numbered ticket, please contact Joyce Canaan at: joyce.canaan@bcu.ac.ukA waiting list will come into operation when all the places have been allocated

Please forward this invite to those who may be interested

Convenors: Joyce Canaan and Richard Hatcher

The Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues (MERD) Seminars were founded by Tony Green (University of London, Institute of Education) and Glenn Rikowski in 2001. The first MERD Seminar was run at the Institute of Education in October 2002. For details on MERD Seminars 1-10, see: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=events&sub=MERD

Constantin are an exciting new electro-pop band. They played their second live show at 229 Great Portland Street last Saturday. Gregory Rikowski was there for the show and has written a review of this excellent band’s performance.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Frock-Coated Communist: The Revolutionary Life of Friedrich Engels

Tristram Hunt talks about his new book:

21st May, 7.00pmBishopsgate Institute230 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4QH

Friedrich Engels is one of the most attractive and contradictory figures of the 19th century. A co-founder of international communism and co-author of The Communist Manifesto, Engels was far more than Marx’s right-hand man. He was a profound thinker in his own right who predicted the social effects of today’s free-market fundamentalism and globalisation. In this talk, Tristram Hunt discusses his biography of Engels, The Frock-Coated Communist, and considers how one of the great bon viveurs of Victorian Britain reconciled his raucous personal life with his uncompromising political philosophy.

Dr Tristram Hunt is one of Britain’s best known young historians. He is a lecturer in British history at Queen Mary, University of London and a former associate fellow at the Centre for History and Economics, King’s College, Cambridge. A leading historical broadcaster, he has authored numerous series for BBC Radio and Television and Channel 4 and is a regular contributor to The Times, The Guardian and The Observer.

As the political fault lines of a new era take shape, what will be the defining politics of the next decade? In the wake of an era of social dislocation and rapid change one response will be a popular search for belonging and cultural familiarity. Our discussion will explore the popular reactions to the social fragmentation, inequalities and cultural destruction of ways of life that have resulted from the decades of economic restructuring as well as from the recession. This is already evident in the rise of the BNP in certain areas, and the alienation of younger generations from electoral politics. A new political culture will need to articulate the social goods that give security, meaning and value to people: home, family, friendships, good work, locality and imaginary communities of belonging. The way people give priority to these, and the reaction to the threats against them, will shape the post-crash political landscape.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

THE CRUNCH CHALLENGES: THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CREDIT CRUNCH FOR EDUCATION

This is part of the Current Issues in Post-Compulsory Education seminar series at London South Bank University

These seminars should be of interest to all those working in the post-compulsory sector.

The first seminar is:

The Crunch Challenges: The Consequences of the Credit Crunch for EducationIan McNay13th May, 5.30-7.308th Floor, The Keyworth Centre, London South Bank UniversityKeyworth Street, London SE1 6NG

Reductions in funded student numbers in higher education, reductions in employer support, the prospect of a long-term squeeze on public funding – just some of the more obvious challenges of the credit crunch for higher education. How do we make sense of and address these challenges, including those affecting expansion, mission diversity and equity? Bring your own crunch issues to add to the agenda! Ian McNay is Emeritus Professor of Higher Education and Management at the University of Greenwich, London, where he was head of the School of Post-Compulsory Education and Training. Recent publications include Beyond Mass Higher Education: Building on Experience (SRHE/Open University Press, 2006) and Higher Education and Human Good (with Jennifer Bone) (Tockington Press, 2006).

Teas and coffees will be provided at 5.30, so you must book a place by replying to:Alison BrittonReader in Educational DevelopmentDirector, Programme for Learning and Teaching in Higher EducationLondon South Bank UniversityEducation DepartmentRotary StreetLondonOffice: Borough Road B304Phone: 0207 815 6498Email: alison.britton@lsbu.ac.uk

Directions: Cooper Union Great Hall. 7 East 7th Street New York City, New York 10003 between Third Avenue and Cooper Square (just south of Fourth Avenue) 6 train to Astor Place R, W to 8th Street - NYU

The Rouge Forum News is an outlet for working papers, critical analysis, and grassroots news. Issue 14 of the RF News will be dedicated to papers delivered at the Rouge Forum Conference at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI.Conference presenters, if you would like your paper to be considered for Issue 14, please send your essay to Adam Renner at arenner@bellarmine.edu by June 15, 2009.

Rouge Forum News, Issue 15: Call for Papers

The Rouge Forum News is an outlet for working papers, critical analysis, and grassroots news. Issue 15 will be dedicated to our persistence in providing links between runaway capital, the rabid and rapid standardization of curriculum, the co-optation of our unions, the militarization of our youth, and the creep of irrationalism in our schools.

We are interested in work from academics, parents, teachers, and students: teachers at all levels, students in ANY grade, parents of children of any age.

Something small, something big, something serious. It is the stories we get from people like you that make the RF News what it is. If you have a story to share, but would like to protect your identity, use a pen name. Pen names are ALWAYS welcome!We NEED Art! Songs! Poems! Editorial cartoons! Links to online videos or other material!

We are looking for narratives, as well as research, and the interplay between research and practice which focuses on the economy, curriculum, unions, etc. If you have a story to tell, some research to share, a book to review, we’d love to see it (and share it).

We publish material from k-12 students, parents, teachers, academics, and community people struggling for equality and democracy in schools—writing (intended to inform/educate, or stories from your classroom, etc.), art, cartoons, photos, poetry. You can submit material for the RF News via email (text attachment, if possible) to Adam Renner at arenner@bellarmine.edu

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Yes, it’s my birthday today! Three years ago I wrote an article about why I was so pleased to have a birthday on 2nd May. The article contains other stuff too – about communism, the Red Chalk Principle and other political issues.

About Me

I am a Visiting Fellow in the College of Social Science at the University of Lincoln. I was previously a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Education at Anglia Ruskin University (2014-15). Prior to that, I was previously a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Northampton. My interests are in Marxist educational theory, the future of the human and social time. The Rikowski family web site, The Flow of Ideas can be found at: http://www.flowideas.co.uk,
My Wordpress blog, 'All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski' is at: http://rikowski.wordpress.com,
Glenn Rikowski @ Academia: http://independent.academia.edu/GlennRikowski
@ ResearchGate: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Glenn_Rikowski